Grooving and flexible form installing attachment for road paving machines



July 7, 1953 G. 'r. NELSON 2,644,378 GROQVING AND FLEXIBLE FORM INSTALLING ATTACHMENT FOR ROAD PAVING MACHINES Filed Oct. 1a, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 A I? y v Q Inventor July 7, 1953 .6. T, NELSON GROOVING AND FLEXIBLE FORM INSTALLING ATTACHMENT FOR ROAD PAVING MACHINES 'T Sheet-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1948 Inventor George T. Nelson MN l .l J v 0 5 QQ NW GM 3 m w! mm 0 08 m2 ow a \E wQ 0Q 5 mu Q m m MQ mm VQ Q m \\h 9 mm x 3. n

July 7, 1953 s. 'r. NELSON GROOVING AND FLEXIBLE FORM INSTALLING ATTACHMENT FOR ROAD PAVING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 13, 1948 Inventor George 7'.- Nelson y 7, 1953 T e. 'r. 'NELSON 2,644,378

' GROOVING AND FLEXIBLE FORM INSTALLING T ATTACHMENT FOR ROAD PAVING MACHINES Filed Oct. 18, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 "3 f; a I h g. "I Q .9 m U) Q R k m 0 I N '0 m I v w '0 ll N Inventor George T. Nelson July 7, 1953 s. 'r. NELSON 2,644,378

GROOVING AND FLEXIBLE FORM INSTALLING ATTACFWIENT FOR ROAD PAVING MACHINES Filed 001;. 18, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor George T. Nelson By 2mm 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 y 7, 1953 s. 'r. NELSON GROOVING AND FLEXIBLE FORM INSTALLING ATTACHMENT FOR ROAD PAVING MACHINES Filed Oct. 18, 1948 July 7, 19 .3 ca. 'r. NELSON 2 4 GROOVING AND FLEXIBLE FORM INSTALLING ATTACHMENT FOR ROAD PAVING MACHINES Filed Oct. 18, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Fig ll I38 I36 a?! /48 J 15/ 38 i T I37 /5/ 145, /44 46 2 I37 Inventor 92 Ge arge 7'. Nelson Patented July 7, 1953 om'rso STATES rAr-snrvorrlclit RoovinG AND FLEXIBLE, FORM INSTAL- LING ATTACHMENT FOR ROAD. PAVING MACHINES George T. Nelson, Lebanon, "Ienn. Application October 18, 1948, Serial No. 55,118

Claims.

I'his invention relates to concrete pavements 'andjroad paving machines and, more particularly, has reference to novel and improved means, characterized chiefly by a mobile track-supported road paving machine and special devices and automatic facilities suspended from said mais noticeably crooked. Secondly, the drag is not completely enclosed tokeep concrete from interfering with its operation and the design is such that it tears up the concrete so noticeably that when the concrete is being re-worked around the filler joint behind the machine, the joint machine, whereby to permit central longitudinal channelingof poured concrete, before it sets, in a manner to provide a uniform straight away groove such as may be successfully used, subsequently, in making anacceptable contraction joint. The generally accepted practice in constructing a longitudinal contraction joint groove invokes the use of steel'inserts, of suitable short lengths, and these are fed into the paving by hand. Due m displacement, as the steel forms are inserted the concrete in and around the area of the potential groove is rough and distorted, obviously, and it has been and still is the practice to restore and finish the displaced concrete using hand tools and implements. Some of the steel forms or strips are solid and are placed in abutting end to end relation while other designs are of a so-called channel-type with suitable hook or latch means at the opposite ends to hold the respective ends of adjacent forms together. These channel-type forms or strips are placed in the concrete up side-down. l The proper formation and installationof joints in concrete'is; indeed a major p bl m in concrete paving endeavors. Particularly is this true in so "far asit involves center line longitudinal joints. There are in use some machines that have been tried, more or less unsuccessfully, to properly install longitudinal contraction joints and as a step in achieving wanted ends a device generally referred to as a drag is attached to the movable conveyance or carriage and is dragged through the concrete to fashion a groove. It has been the idea of users of this practice that by the use of a drag they could hold the concrete open and then feed into the opening or trench a; premolded filler jointand simply let the finishing cover, it up, behind the machine,

and smooth concrete over .it in thatthe intended result would beacceptable. The'filler, which is flexible, would cause a plane ofweakness, the concrete i V and that was what itwas presumed the industry wanted. Actually, however, here is what happened and still happens where the stated machine and procedure is used. In the first .place,

would break along the line of the filler present-day users do not have a machine that can possibly hold thedrag straight in the center of the road and so consequently the finished line terial is broken'up, finishes under the concrete, sometimes one inch under the surface and is not left standing perpendicularly. So consequently most local and State authorities have ruled out this mode'of joint construction. The present invention comprehends the adoption and use of a special road paving machine which serves as a carriage for: a plurality of- "properly devised and arranged devices which function in proper sequential order to solve some of theproblems heretofore met in a highly satis-. factory and acceptable manner.

Briefly and somewhat broadly construed, one phase o-f' the instant invention has to do with a road paving machine which incorporates therein an automatically steered carriage and which constitutes an ideal and practical conveyance for the attachments and appliances which, collectively considered; so to make-up the essential phases of the present invention.

Before touching upon the automatically steerable carriage version-of the invention, I would prefer-to introduce important achievements, re-

jgardless of the :type of road paving machine used, by statingthat it is an outstanding objective here to provide a mobile support in the form of machine which travels on tracks and which spans the concrete paving and which carries 7 means for channeling the concrete and keeping the channel open and further includes a supply of flexible filler material, in strip form, which is both a filler and a formand which is reeled from the source of supply on the machine and automatieally laid or installed in the channel or groove which has been formed. More specifical- 1y, novelty is predicated upon the stated mobile machine or support having the aforementioned facilities-wherein the channeling means is char-. acterized by a'longitudinally elongated shoe, the

latter being provided at its forward or'advancing end with a perpendicularly positioned vertically reciprocating knife or cutter which plows into f and initiates the opening of the channel, the shoe then functioning as a follower, as well as a travelling form, and serving to hold the channel open and, inaddition providing a ways and means whereby the flexible strip, the relatively stationary channel former, is laid into .the groove until 1 the concrete hardens sufficiently and is then yanked and removed from the groove, leaving the finished'groove for completion of the aforementioned longitudinal contraction joint.

A further object has to do with the adoption and use of a plurality of complemental and companion tools all intimately associated and interdependently coordinated with the shoe means so that While the. groove isbeingformed, the displaced concrete along the edges and ad'- jacent regions is restored to requisite shape and smoothness.

Enlarging upon the previous object, means is provided, for example, whicliimmediatelytraile the penetrating point of the vertically reciprocat ing knife, said means serving to tamp and pack dislodged stones and aggregate. addition to the ingenious tamping and restoring tools I provide, on each side of the-shoe, forwardly diverging trowels, these being rapidly reciprocated by suitable poweringmeans and serving to perform a furtherstep in reconditioning. the concrete and following, progressively behind. these. trowels are further reciprocating floats to. further finish the surface. 1 1 l A still further object ofithe' invention is. to pro.- vide grooving means for concrete paving, means whereb a flexible formis automatically laid. in the groove as soonlas. same is in shape therefor,

there being, in addition, the statedlv tamping,

trowel andfloat tools. or means and, atthe'rear end of the shoe there being. rightPangularl-y disposed, elongated floats. which put thefinal and finishing touches on the surfacesfrom themiddle toward the margins of'the. paving whereby to automatically and satisfactorily handle the entire job. frombeginning to end. andto achievethe. Wanted ends with requisite-speed and inrkeeping with present-day requirements ofrapid" production results. v V I 1 As' an introductory portion of. my description I deemit advisableto again refer'to the fact that.

the grooving and; flexible for-m installation: de-

vices and facilities-are preferablyflused in connection with. anv automatically: steerable. carriage. Briefly, the automatically steerable carriage has to do with a horizontal fram ework which transversely spans the roadway, -and-- which is adapted to run at right anglestc the longitudina'l center of said: roadway, the same-being, supported on tracks, forming portions of the rramginal concrete formsusuall-y-used by suitabl rack wheels, the

track wheels being parts of; dirigibletrucks and;

means being provided for delivering, powerv from a prime mover on the framework to the Wheels: to attain the desired tractiomandr additional means being provided-whereby-one of the trucks' develops the energy necessary-in operating. differential andspeed changemeans in. order that both I trucks will be correctly related to the frame structure and the entire carriage caused to-properly stay on the tracks-regardless-of variance-in elevation of the respective track rails, inclinations up or down, or curves-. causing the tracksto deliver the carriagearound corners; and the like.

' ,Numerous other objects; features and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and the. accompanying illustrative drawings' Y Inthedrawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate-like parts. throughout the views: 7 r r Figure 1 is afragmentary perspective view showing the stated automatically steerable carriage and-showing, in a generalway, some of the essential: aspects;and structural features; constie h n v 84.111

tuting the principal contributions of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a central transverse vertical section through the structure shown in Figure 1, or what may be described as a view of Figure l observing same in a direction from left to right;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the plane of the horizontal; line"33 of Figure 2;..looking in the direction. of" the arrows J Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View, of a frag- ,me'ntary type, taken on the plane of the line 4-4 v of Figure 2, lookingin the direction of the arrows and-5 showing the-grooving shoe means embedded or sunk i'nzthe concrete paving;

Figure 5 is a View like Figure 4 but showing elevating; means adjusted to elevate the shoe tailingthe. forwardend portion. of theshoe means. and; reciprocablezconcrete breaking, slicing. and,

piloting cutter; r

Figure 8 is: a fragmentary longitudinal. sec.-

tiona-l-view on the line 8-8. ofF-iglure 3, Iool ing:

F'gure' 9 is a. fragmentary View. in section. and" elevation:taken:transverselythrough-the.machine and serving. to illustrate certain: means for lifting.

in the; direction. of the arrows},

and! loweringthe rearend portion of. the shoe means;

Figure 10 is an elevatienal. view of a fragmenr tary type showingth-e aforementioned trowel and float which trails behind said-trowel and" complements the functioning of thelattera Figure 11 is anlenlargedfragmentary viewof. a

diagrammatic; character which is employedto illustratethe mode of; operation of: one ofthe V'tamps-; a r

. Figure- 12; is: an enlarged sectional view on the. line l r -t2? of Figurewli and Figure" 13 'is 3,11% enlarged cross: section on the line; IS -t3 of Figure' 2 loolsing i-nthe direction of the arrows. 7

Reference is had: first. to-Figme 1-. As previously stated, it is not absolutely: essential-that thepresjent invention berestricted tense in connectien witlr an automatically; steerable carriage such:assiszbriefl disclosed in. l=atent. No. 2,556,5(13,v

granteditdme on' June 13, L951. Howevenit' has."

been found; that when the attachments. are'used on. a carriage as shown and described in: the statedipatent, thework; is -correct and the fin:-

ished job isto the-utmost in. satisfaction to. ali. concerned-.- The mere fact. that.- I have shown a] fragmentary perspective portion. of the aforementioned automatically steered carriage does not. necessitate, I" believe. a description of; all of:

the-minute and variousdetails thereof; It seems up. saidframework and which hasfmeans attthe transverse ends of the framework including wheels litv which; ride on spaced paralleltracks ll, (one trackb'eingfshown),[this being one of" the track the regular f orr'ns' used in concrete paving and roa'd"'fcon'struction work; On the framework or machine a suitable prime mover or motor l8 is provided'j and; this serves to impart motion to the various parts constituting the motion .transmission: gearing 'on' said" machine? but hereagain, the prime movergis susceptible of being any source of, power which'would be sufficient to supply the power wanted to move the various devices whichgo .to make up thepresent shoaas a unitary device, is preferably longitudinally elongated and in practice may embody. a horizontal Tr-iron including a vertical web porslides up. and down-in a fixed sleeve 4| or tube," which is welded or otherwise secured to the na-.1

chine framework as shown, for example, in-Figtion l9 and a horizontal flange 20. A channel fl.

shaped sheath of sheet material or the like 2i, substantially encloses the web and providesan appropriate partially hollow runner, The com posite shoe,;thus constructed,not only rides along in the ploughed groove in the concrete, ,and spreads and holds the. same open, but alsolfrinctions as feeding and laying means whichinstalls or. lays the flexible strip or so-called 'flexible form 22in said groove.

I call attention at this time to the flexible strip, of rubber or appropriate composition material which is used as the groove filler and consequently as the former or temporary form for the groove.- So far as I have been able to ascertain, only rigid metal or equivalent forms have been used in longitudinal grooves.

At .theadvancing or forward end of the shoe, I provide a vertical or perpendicular .reciproca.

tory cutting knife or blade 23' -and this pilots along in advance of the shoe and chops up and down in the concrete to initially part same and to facilitate the stepof nosing orpiloting the forward end of the shoe intothe thus partly openedgroove. The knif '23 is a suitably coni strueted flat blade whose upper portion rides up and down in a U-shaped guide 24 having. end portions 25 laterally turned and fastened to adjustable collars 28 on the framebar 21.0f the I 32 (see Figure 2) suitably suspended fromlthe machine frame; The numeral 33 designatesja fixed vertical channel clip in which onev edge portion of the blade slides, up and down; It will be noted in Figure ,8 that the lower end portion of the blade isappropriately curved asjat 34 and that the rear vertical edge rides up and down in contact with the web portion IQ of said shoe.

- The flange 20 and web [9 are formed at corresponding-ends with a vertical groove, 35in which V I the blade operates and the blade is provided at it bottom withlassembling cleats or plates ,36 bolted or fastened in place on the blade at 31,

said cleats also embracing and slidably contacting the nose or forward .end portion of the sheath portion of said shoe. The idea here is to permit the parts to have relative. movement and to be sur -that. they coordinate their functions with stability and requisite certainty. Briefly, how

ever anysuit-able, meansis provided for vertically sliding the blade from the frame structure and coordinating the lower curvate end with the noseportion of the shoeto enter the concrete and to start the formatipn of the, groove and topermitth shoe to follow. through and hold the groove open. The upper. end of the bladeissuspended from a coiled springQQFigur-el) 38rconnected with a bolt. the pr ss to suitable meansyon the uppere'nd of arod 40. This rod .ure 8. The lower end of the rod is provided with g a. fork bracket 42 which has its ear portions apertured and connected with a horizontal pin .or

axle 43 mounted at its center in a suitable transverse bearing 44 atop the flange 20 of ,saidshoe. Before further discussing the function of the extending endportions of the pin or axle 43, I 4 7 refer again to the upper end portion of the cutter blade or knife. Specifically, .I make reference to a toothed rack bar 45 which-is attached to and movable with the rod 40. A pinion 46 meshes with the rack teeth and said pinion is suitably mounted on the sleeve 4| as shown in Figures 4 and 5, at point 41. The pinion is operated by a lever 48 and said lever is adjustable on a part circular holding rod 49. More specifically, the means here shown comprises plates 50 slidable on the lever as at 5|, there being a pair of hand grips 52 on opposite sides of the lever and said hand grips being pressed apart by spring means 53. The levers are pivoted between the plates as at 54. Referring at this point toFigure 6, it will b seen that the hand grips which are springpressed apart are provided with plate-like jaws 55 having notched friction grips 55. releasably engageable with the holding rod 49. Withfthis arrangement the lever and latches which control the pinionserve, through the instrumentality of f the pinion and rack, to raise and lower the rod 40. Since the rod is hingedly connected at its lower end to the forward end portion of the hoe,

just described is employed to accomplish this cally and independently hoisting or lifting and the screw-threaded sleeve portion 59 of a turn lowering the rear or trailing end portion of the shoe. to Figure 12 wherein it will beseen that a U- shaped bracket 51 is secured to the flange '25 of the T-iron in said shoe and this is pro vided with a 'hinging andyassernbling bolted: and the lower ends of lifting links .iflare convnected thereto. In addition a post or rod 60 is hingedly connected at its lower end between the corresponding ends of the links 59. A horizontal rocker shaft 6| is mounted for oscillation in brackets 62 (see Figure 1) carried by the frame structure and cooperable with the frame member is rocked the links and rocker arms serve to lift and lower the rear end of the shoe and the associated parts. The latter include not only the rod 60 but a guide tube or sleeve 65 (see Figure 2) which is mounted betweenangleironsfor the like 66 fixedly secured,,infany"appropriate'rnan:

ner, in place. These parts are sufficiently flexible "to enable same to automatically angle themselves to accommodate the rise and fall of the rear 1 or terminal end portion of the shoe means I call attention to igure 9,-wherein it W111 be seen. that the rocker shaft BI is remote controlled from the front of the machine. To this end, the rocker shaft is provided with a curvate In'this connection, I first call, attention.

The rocker shaft is provided with rocker arms 64 which are pivotally connected to'the upper ends of the links 59 so that when the shaft sneeze:

7v buckle 'lffi. The scfe'w of theturnbucklerisede r noted at H and is mounted torrota-tion a bearing 12: carried by a suitably fixed bracket 13% Thescrew is turnedby hand crank it having a handle T and Said Hand Crank-is looked against movement by a Iath; 1 5 l'l'lvifig 3.1 1 operating} handle 1-1 (see Figure 1). Thus by catching hold or the crank after it is released and turning it, the turnbuckle and push-pull link- '10 shaft and the rocker shaft,-inturn, through the a means comes i'nt'o play to oscillate the'rocker horizontal, longitudinally elongated runner or shoe which runs in and opens up and" keeps the groove open, a vertically reciprocating knife properly coordinated with the forward end of the shoe, means for raising and lowering" the knife aswell as the forward end portion of the shoe; and means for raising and lowering the-rear or trailing end of the shoe. The stated spring pulls the knife upwardly but powering means is provided" for pulling the'knif'edown and causing its lower end to penetrate'the'concrete. The latter' means is to be described later;

I call attention'at' this time to the flexible strip;j of rubber or appropriate composition material which is used as the groove filler and'consequent 7 1y as the former or form for the groove; So far as I have been able to ascertain, only'rig'id metalor equivalent forms have been used in longitudinal grooves; In the present case, I introduce the idea of employing a flexible form and this is a strip of proper material which is substantially V'-shap e'd in cross-section and which has already been referred to by the numeral 22. In practice the supply end'of the strip is rolled on. a. suitable reel 18 (see Figure 2) as at E9. The reel is mounted on'a spindle or shaft ,carried by an appropriate fixture which issecured rigidly as at 81 on the frame of the'machine. The numeral 82 designates ball-bearing means interposed between the reel and bracket or plate 80. The reel has an idling hub 83 which rotates on the spindle or shaft 84 and said shaft is screw-threaded to accommodate a nut 85 on a hand crank 86. The nut may be turned'to prevent the reel from rotating or may regulate the degree or speed of rotation of the reel. The nut may be backed up to permit the reel to unwind freely and consequently the strip material 2 2 to unrollf from the reel. The strip material enters a'feeder and" guide as at 81 in Figure 2. The guide leads into and communicatesfwith the guideway 88 in said shoe (see Figure 8). The numeral 89 designates a' guiding and delivering channel which is fixed in" place by clips 90' suitably supported from theframe structure. One edge portion of the strip rides in the guide channel between the drumor' reel 18 and the lateral rearwardly and gradually curved intake feeder on the sheath 2! of said j The numeral 91 designates an anti-f friction andguiding roller at the mouth of said g 75" shoe 8T.

feeder neck which forms a part of the feeding v tio' the groove which is channeled or trenched by nicii'a r fism'for said-strip; Thus, therear end" of ith'e rubber strip -Z Z' suitably anchored and 1i6ilt'gr2idl1a1Iy-fi0m the hollow Sheath por I the shoe and is"--th'us installed or laid in theshoeL Reference being had to Figure 2 again, it wlfl l be seen that the rear end portion of the "of ti). sheath portionpf the shoe are pro- I -shapedslots 9-2- in opposite sides which err-pose the outcoming end portionof the stri" 2 2 to facilitate adherence of the plastic concrete thereto. It will-be noticed that the T-- iron projects rearwardlyof the V-notches and,- obvioii'sly; this significant adaptation and ar- '-rangeinent improvements insures advanced exposition of the strip'andalsoexpe'dites its lay ingf'an-d anchoring in the groove or channel. addition to the features so far describe'dI provide-Ia plurality of complementalcompanion 'instrumentaliti'es or so-called tool's resemble hand tools that are ordinarily employed in surfacing andfinishing work by concrete workmen. At the forwardorpiloting endof the shoe I provide special tools which, as far as I know, are novelistructuraily' and otherwise. These-are arranged in parallelism and in a: pair and on opposite sides of the forward portion of the shoe; A description of onejwill, however; suflice for both; Each tool is generallyrefe'rred to as a V-tamp 93.

It comprises" a suitably proportioned flat plate whose vertex is indicatedfat 94' andwhoseforward end is directed-up and denoted at 95 and its rear end: directed up and denoted at 9'6; has a hanger STWhiCh is rockably'mounted on an end portion of the aforementioned pin 431 Spring means 98 (Figure 3) is held in place "bya Washer and the springsurrounds' the pin 43. The web or hanger 5.1 is provided with an extension 99' (Figure' 2) and this is provided with a slot and operates'as a rocking lever or arm for the V-tamp 93';- At. this stage Idi'rec't attention to Figure '7- sliowingtn details; slightly enlarged- The nu-' meral f 00 in Figure? designates a suitable'fi'xture collifdtd as at [0 3136 Said CI'O'SS-he'ald. The CD- I posite ends of the pi'tma'ns are adjustably connectedasf at i Mjtot the slotted endof the rocking levers 99. The, numeral. H15 designates a crankshaftmountedin a bearing on a support I 06 which crankshaft carriesa connecting rod I'll! which, in turn, is connected with and operates the shiftable cross-head Rotary motion is imparted to the crankshaft"(se'e Figure '2) byway of a flexible shaftlflB which receives motion from the point,

los 'consutuuhgi a part r the gearing driven'by the aforementioned prime mover. I' am not especiallyj-cr'gncerned as t'o how the crankshaft is driven" but Ihave found it advisable to use a flexible shaft anew attach one end of the shaft to asuitable sourceofpower'and the other end to the crankshaft, the flexible shaft beingsufli'cient to" allow' relative movement between the frame and the lifting and lowering ofthe shoe-while maintaining a drivingconnection between; the parts at all times; nextcall attention to Figure 7' showing asuit'abiy unte'd pulley I Hi and aapower transmitting wire H1 is trained over this andconnecte'dat one end as l lzto th'e'r'eciprocable knife bl'a-de2 3. Thaopposit'eor' left h-andend of head I'O'lh- Thus thecross-liead-not'only-serves'to transmit motion tofthe two v-t'am'ps but also to the-reciproeatory utterblade' N. The wire pulls the'nbllade 2'3 down-end tlie spring as" pulls the Said plate formed andit is necessary to tamp it back into place. Thus the tamping takesplace shortly after the knifepenetrates the concrete. The V-tamps and the mannerin which 'each operates is almost human like in accomplishment. It might be stated, in this connection, that an experimental. machine has been made embodying all of the devices and improvements herein shown and described and said machine operates. T

Not only is it necessary to tamp and compress thedislodged stonesand aggregate but it also necessary to spread and otherwise flatten same. I use two sets of tools in rear of the V-tamps to accomplish furtherreplacement and dressing work. 'While both sets of tools may be described as trowels, for sake of distinction I describe the angularly disposed tools as mechanical trowels H3 and each comprises a fiat plate II4 with a sharpened marginal edge. The plate has a web I Iiicarrying a' slide or sleeve I I6 which is slida'ble on a supporting rod I I! (see Figure 10) which rod issupported in bearings IIS suitably mounted,

there being a cushioning and return spring at I I9.) These trowels, which are onopposite sides of the shoe, are in forwardly diverging rearwardly con- 'verging relationship. They shift or reciprocate rapidly back and forth on the supporting shafts "of rods II] and the action is obtained by a pull wire I20. The operatingend of the wire is attached to the slidable trowel as at I2I and the wire is trained over a pulley I22. Thus, the wire when it moves to the left in Figure 10 pulls the trowel rearwardly and toward the shoe in 'an angular plane and when the wire lets go the spring II9 returns the shoe to its forward position, as is obvious. These trowels shift and shuffle and scrape and spread the concrete which has been previously impacted by the V-tamps. It will be noticed, however, that the converging rear ends of the trowels II3 do not come into immediate or intimate relation with the opposite side portions of the shoe. Therefore, additional follow-up tools slidably mounted at I21 on rod I28 and a crosshead I29 serves to impart the necessary reciprocatory motion. This cross-head is operated by the wire I20 already referred to. There are two of these wires I20 and they are'in V-relationship as shown in Figure 3. where they connectwith a single master wire-I30 operable over a pulle I3l which is suitably mounted on ahanger I32 form- 3 [ing a part of the machine frame. There is another pulley at I33 (see Figure 2) which'is suitab'ly hung and the wire passes over this where it connects as at I34 with a pinion I35. Thepinion has an eccentric to which thewire end is connected and the pinion rotatesrapidly and the eocentric provides a crank motion for the wire and the wire is thus alternately pulled back and forth first by the eccentric and then secondly by the returnsprings 'on the aforementioned tools. Again,

I wouldcXplainthat I am not so much concerned with how power is transmitted from theiprime 10 mover to the tools H3 and I23, respectively. The main idea is to have the two tools II3 work back and forth and in proper contact with the concrete and then the follow-up tools I23 working right alongside of the shoe and in movable or Wiping contact with the shoe. Thus, any material that is not treated by the oblique reciprocating trowels I I3 is caught and treated by the parallel followup tools I23. The latter virtually serve as edgers for the groove and may therefore be designated as follow-up and edging trowels. r

I call attention now to the elongated rightangularly disposed finishing floats which are arranged at the rear'or trailing end portion of r the shoe means at the point where the flexible form or filler 22 emerges from the shoe and is laid in the groove. Referring to Figure 12 it will be seen that these floats are denoted by the numerals I36 and each comprises an elongated rectangular fiat plate It? with a marginal frame 138 made up of suitable metal straps as shown better in Figure 3. Incidentally; the forward and rear longitudinal edges of the plate are upturned as at I 39 and I40 (see Figure 2). These floats have a considerable span and put the finishing touches on the surface of the concrete. It will be noted that suspension wires I4? have inverted V-shaped end portions I42 and these are hung from the framcwork'of the machine as shown to the right in Figure 1. Thus the outer end. portions of the floats are comparatively flexible.

It is also shown in Figure 12 that the curving end portion of the sheathform'ing the hollow portion of the shoe has outstanding flanges I43 which serve to edge the longitudinal edge portions of the groove being formed. Angle irons I44 are fastened to opposite sides of the shoe and filler'plates I45 are arranged betweenthe hori- 7 carried by filler plates I59 connected to cross members I5I' on the adjacent inner end portions of the respective floats I36. Thus the inner end portions of the floats through the instrumentalities of the parts described are detachably interlocked to the coacting parts on the shoe.

Reverting to Figure 13 and the parts shown I would like to call attention to the fact that the numerals I52 and I53designate outwardly flaring guides on diametrically opposite sides of the "reelable flexible form and these facilitate in insuring that the form is smoothly unwound and fed through the delivery channel 558 into the locating and laying shoe.

I show this in the drawings (Figure 11) in .order to better explain and understand how each bing effect on 'theloo's'e aggregate as it works to replace it. Notice too that it has this effect both ways; the front rubbing itone way while the rear rubs the other. This two-way movement very important in getting the stone in concrete i worked back in place once it is torn up.

Before I try to further explain my automatic operating groove jointing attachment, I feel that the reader shouldknow something-shout concrete, its attitude and the effects of tools upon it when they are applied. Good concrete is composed of clean (sharp and hard) sand and gravel mixed with enough goodcement to bond the two together. There should be enough cement to wrap every grain ofsand, and-enough sand and cement together to fill in and around every gravel or stone used; no more orvno less. Enough water should be applied to the mixture and mixed ,long enough to thoroughly mix everything together forming, not too wet, but a good, heavy, workable concrete. Concrete should ,be placed, immediately after mixing, in thegforms; then as soon as possible it should be smoothed off, or surfaced. Concrete begins setting, or hardening, in about ten minutes after it is placed. This setting is caused by the cement springing little fingers all interlocking each other, Disturbing thesefingers after the concrete begins setting results in undesirable damage to the concrete. There are just so many of these fingers and the longer concrete sets, before it is disturbed, the more fingers there are to break. Of course, the outside temperature controls the speed of concrete setting. In cool weather concrete sets up slowly, that is, it is slow about putting out its fingers. In warm, summer weather, workmen really have to hurry to keep up with its setting sorfast. I might add here, that so long as concretecan be worked about without adding water, itis still good concrete, but

the minute water must be added to accomplish some unfinished work on it, it will not pass its grade. knows just when to strike concrete for each particular phase of the work to be done onit. Some can even tell by looking at it while others punch at it with their fingers. After concrete has been placed a little while, .if one will :notice, water begins coming to the top, then will evaporate. After complete evaporation concrete should not be further disturbed. All work, finishing, jointing and edging should be completed during the evaporating period, that is, while the water is coming up and before it is all gone, for at this stage, the process of curing concrete sets in.

Differenttools and/or a different use of the same tool is required in acquiring the various finishes and jobs on concrete. Concrete floors require a steel float finish which requires -floating long enough so that the tool marks will not show in the finish. Concrete bridges and the like require a rubbing out of all form marks usually accomplished by the use of ,Carborundum brick, first with water and then a dry rub. Highways and streets have different finished jobs too. Some engineers want a smooth, slick looking job while others want a sort of design finish. Still others want a smooth job but a rough surface, such as dragging a steel broom across the surface, scratching the top a little. The point I am trying to bringout is that in almost all of these dif ferent finishes, some of the same tools are used but are used in a different manner. To use them wrong, that is, the wrong movement of the tool used would spoil the finish desired. Every op- .Almost every experienced concrete man eration leading to any particular finish should coordinate and work a little different in each case. Also, tools must be shapedright for whatever is to be done with them. Some need to be flat, while others need to be turned up at the .of wood or fabric.

. edges so they willnot dig intothe concrete. Some need to be of steel whileothers need to be made Wide roadway paving presents many problems and requires unusual tools and equipment in all phases of the work, especially in finishing the concrete. A

My automatic trenching and flexible formstrip installing shoe will not only travel straight the center line, but is completely-enclosed, designed thin, very'little larger than the strip itself, .No

gravel or even cement can; get into obstruct easy now of any kind of flexible material for whatever -purpose used, and by the automatically Work-in into which flexible form strip is .fed into the shoe.

'flfhere :is very little friction or drag anywhere along the line to-cause the strip material "to break.

tear or break. Another feature found in my shoe are the slots or openings 92 I have left on each side at the tail end directly under the floats, so that the twist I have in the floats will place the concrete snug against the strip material passing through, before the latter is released from the shoe. This novel combination of features makes for a nice looking job.

I might add here that I have used both my automatic steering carriage and flexible form strip installing and trenching shoe and the engineers and contractor were well pleased with them. Another reason why thesemachines and attachments, that I am now presenting, are needed so much is because there are some states that have already and others are planning to pour only one 11 foot .or 12 foot lane at a time. partly because they have no machine on the market today that can install the center line joint satisfactorily when pouring 22 foot or 24 foot roads. This change to .narrow lane paving is certainly costing the industry money. Here is why. So far as equipment is concerned, it costs just about as much to pour one-half of a 22 :foot road as if the full road was carried on in once overi The reason is this.

in so far as the working parts are concerned. ..All

equipment used. on the road must travel overthe.

road twice when pouring only one-half at a .time. This'is almost double wear on all road equipment. Grading one-half of a road at a time costs almost as :much' as grading thefull 22 foot width. The. I two lines, of forms must be set for one-halfof;

new design, more automatic to do the Work that cannot'be done satisfactorily by hand. Thattis what I think I have revealed here in these various disclosures and resultant contributions to the art. i

Another feature of my Narrow gaugeequip- V ment is about the same as wide gauge equipment I 13 It is believed that it will be clear it the reader how the machine operatesjfor, in presenting the detailed description of parts, the bperation of same has aso been aptly and clearly set forth.

Briefly; the machine or carnage:- tr'avels alon on the forms I T and thus carries the liftable and lowerable installing-shoe'and itsvari'ous complemental attachments. f'lhe flexible form22 has to flexible form strip or filler is fed'intolthe' groove and is left in place until the concrete has set to a ,point where the stick ,ma'y then'be released and pulled out of the finished groove,

a The forwardand rear ends of. the shoemeans may be separately, 1ifteda' nd lowered by the adjusting devices already described. It is'believed that taking into consideration the showing made in the drawingsandthe description, a clear comv "prehension of the invention will thusbe had.

A careful consideration of' the-foregoing dej scripti'onf in conjunction wit'h the -invention as illustratedin the drawingswill enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and" impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention' as hereinafter claimed f Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so longas no departure is made from the invention as claimed. i

i :H ving described the invention, whatis claimed as new is:

bfthe :f'orward portion of said shoe, and means foil said framework for operating said tamps; the forward end portions of the respective tamps straddling andoperating in parallelism on opposite sides of the penetrating end of the knife to scrape'and keep said end of the knife clean. 1 31A concrete road paving and finishingmachine of the class described comprising a powered i mobile carriage embodying framework adapted to r 1. A concrete road pavingland finishingrnachine of the class shown and described*;comprising a powered mobile carriage embodyingframework adaptedto transversely span the concrete pavement in the making, a horizontally elongated centrally positioned concrete grooving shoe suspended from and beneath said framework, said shoe serving to plow the groove, a vertical knife mounted for reciprocation on the forward portion of the framework at the leading end of said shoe, the lower end of said knife being adapted to penetrate the concrete and to thus initiate the plowing of said groove, a pair of duplicate Y-shaped tamps arranged in parallelism on opposite sides of the forward portion of said shoe, said tamps having vertical rocking levers pivotally and swingably mounted directly on said shoe in close proximity to said knife and means on said framework for operating said levers and imparting a cradle motion to said tamps.

2.,A concrete road paving and finishing machine of the class described comprising a powered mobile carriage embodying framework adapted to transversely span the concrete pavement in the making, a horizontally elongated centrally positioned concrete grooving shoe suspended from and beneath'sa'id framework, said shoe serving to plow the i wanted groove, a vertical knife mounted for reciprocation on the forward portion of the framework and in advance of the forward end of said shoe, thelower end of said knife being adapted to penetrate and initiate the plowing'of unison. I i A concreteroad paving and finishing machine of the class shown and described compristransversely span theconcr'ete" pavement in the making,-a' horizontally elongated centrally positioned concrete grooving shoe suspended from and beneath said framework, said shoe serving to" plow the wanted groove, a vertical knife 7 -m'ountedforreciprocation on the forward portiorf'of the framework and in'advance of the forward end of said shoe, the lower end of said knife being adapted to penetrate and initiate the 'plowing of the groove, a pair of duplicate V- shaped tamps rockably'mountedin parallelism on opposite sides of the forward portion of said shoe, the forward'end portions of the respective tamps straddling and operating on opposite sides of the penetrating endof theknife to scrape and keep the knife clean, a pair of rearwardly diverging 'hand-sizetrowels slidably mounted on opposite sides of said shoe at points adjacent to but rearwardlyf of the rear ends of said tamps,

said trowels being mounted for horizontal reciprocation in planes flush with the vertex portions of said tamps; and means on said framework to,

mechanically operate said tamps and trowels in ing a powered mobile carriage embodying framework transversely spanning the concrete pavement in the making, a'lift'able and lowerable horizontally elongated centrally positioned concrete grooving 'shoe manually i regulable means for suspending saidshoe from and beneath said framework-said shoe serving to plow said groove,

a vertical knife mounted for reciprocation on the'forward' portion of the framework'and in advancefof" the forward end of said shoe, the lower-end of said knife'being slidably keyed to fsaid -forwardend and adapted to penetrate and initiate the plowing of the groove, a pair of duplicate V-shaped tamps rockably mounted in parallelism on opposite sides of the forward portion of said shoe, the forward end portions of the respective tamps extending, straddling and operating on opposite sides of the penetrating end of v the knife to contact, scrape and keep the knife clean, a pair of diverging trowels slidably mounted on opposite sides of said shoe at points rearwardly of the rear ends of said tamps, said trowels being mounted for horizontal reciprocation, means on said framework to mechanically operate said tamps andtrowels, a pair of complemental floats on opposite sides of the shoe at points adjacent to andrearwardly of the rear ends of said trowels, said floats being paral lel to the longitudinal axis of the shoe and being 5. The structure specified in claim 4, and a pair of relatively long flexible floats attached at their inner ends to and extending at right angles from the trailing end of the shoe,- said floats beingradapted to span the entire paved surface andadapted to uniformly re-distribute and fi-' nallyfinish all portions of the surface in advance e rs "thereof disturbed by the operation of the knife an hoe, ll of said ta ps, trowels, ,floats, d Iona-flexible iloats being in the same plane and said :shoe providing a common support and carrier therefor.

6. Ina-machine of the class descrlbeia mobile selfeerin rack suppor ed carriage haw/ins a J-honlzontakiramework to 'leridee a concrete road under construction; a r el mounted for rotation on said c rria e andadapted :to hold a p y ou a flexible form strip wh-ich is ,adapted to be laid and temporarily i nstall-edin-a grooveinsaid eonerete road, vertically reoiprocable Concrete choppins and roove pening means mount d on and carried by sa d c rriage and situat d in advance o aid reel, shoe means :ior d liverin and inservin to .pilcw, prepare and hold the grooyeopen o continuou and unhamper d laying of the ,strip ginsaidggroove, said choppi g means being I t ri -ht angle o said shoe means and having li able interconnec ingc nnection with the Lead ins en i thelatten and additional means op acaaazs 516 sectionand havinga completely enclosed lengthwise passage inclining gradually from the lead- ;ingltoward the trailing end, said passage conforming :in shape and size to a flexible tormstrip which isadapted toslide ther ethrouglg adlustable means giiir, attaching. .,t1iWrward and rearward .end portions of said runner to said 7 machine, the vertical side portions of the runstallin sa d strip in sa d groove; said mea s erativ y mounted n sa d shoe means for re- 'placine an automati ally smoothin and efinishin th oncre e displaced from -.said groove, said lastenamed' aneans embodying rockably mounted .tamps situated on opposite sides of said shoe means adjacent thegleading end of the latter and spaced upwardly a predetermined distance the bottom of said shoe means.

m-The, structure defined in claim 6, and me chanical trowels located rearwardly of and a plane with the tam-ps and situated at oblique angles to the line of draft and mounted on and carried-by said shoe means. I a

,8. The structure defined in claim .6, and-mechanicalhand-size floats in a plane with said tamps-and trowels and mounted onopposite sides of said shoe means and oppositetoeach other and rearwardly of said trowel-s andparallel to the line of draft for following up the work step accomplished by said mechanical trowels.

' 9. An attachment for a road paving machine comprising an elongated linearly straight 'rnnner constituting a groove channeling shoe said runner being substantially y-shaped. in oross ner being provided with notches opening through the trailing end of the runner, said notches being situated inwardly of the extreme trailingv end of the .runner in a manner to expose limited side portions of the strip before the latter emerges fully uncovered into the grooves in which it is to be installed, anda pair of flexible floats attached at their respective inner ends to opposite .side portions of the runner, said attached inner ends being located directly above and in alignment with said notches.

10, .Asa new article of manufacture and as a component part .of an apparatus of the class shown and described, an elongated concrete grooving shoe, a pair of duplicate spaced parallel substantially V-shaped tamps rockably mounted on opposite sides of the :forward end portion of said shoe, said tamps having upstanding actuating levers, a fixture fixedly mounted on said sho -5a vcross-head slidablymounted on said fixtu-re, crank and --connecting rod means for imparting motion to .said -cross head, and pitmans connected at one :end with the cross' head and at their opposite ends with .said levers.

GEORGE T. NELSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Miller -1 July 9, 1946 

